Self-feeding apparatus



vF. R. MAGUIRE. SELF FEEDING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 2. I9I9.

Patented Mar. 9, 1920.

3 SHEETS -SHEET I.

F.. R.' MAGUIRE.

SELF'FEEDING APPARATUS. n APPLICATION` FILED MAY 27, 1919.

Y 1,333,208, Patented Mar. 9,1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

F. R. MAGUIRE.

SELF FEEDING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 2, I9I9.

. y QIW w,

UNITED sTATEs 'ilmiriiNTV ourson. 'i f PonnEsTIt. MAGUIItI-i, or PITTSBURGH, PnNNsyLvANIA, AssIGNoIc Tow. e. DAVIS, lor' LARIMER, s. A. AcKnItsom or TnAPFonmANn w. .L. KINsEY, or PITTSBURGH,

- PENNSYLVANIA.

M invention consists of an apparatus for feeding ones self by means of a spoon or fork or other similar device adapted to re-v move portions of food from a holding 'dish' or plate, by means of' actuating hmechanism operated by the foot or feet of the user. It

has in view to provide such a devicecapable ofuse by a person having lost his arms, or thelr use, and to enable him to transfer food fromV a vessel, which is itself preferably adjustable, to a positionwhere'it may be easily taken'into theV mouth.. Y Preferredembodiments of the invention are shown vin-the Vaccompanying drawings, in which:

y Figure l is a vfront'elewation;

view of the apparatus in Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the apparatus; Fig. 3 is a plan view; Fig." 4 is an enlarged sectional view-"ofl the actuating mechanism on the line IV, IV oFig.3; Fig. 5 is a similar view from the other side; i y g Figf is a crosssection onithe lineVI, Vlof Fig. 4; L f

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional detail view of the upper end of the controlling cam; e Fig.y 8 is la view'` similar to'Fig.'1 'showing a Vmodied construction for using a fork,l

showing the fork lowered; and," l

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig.A 4 illustratin the fork actuating mechanism. d he main base 2 of the apparatus ,is adaptv ed to be clamped to a table or shelf A by clamps4 3 and the base is adapted to support a dish `4 which` is capable of `slidingialon'g its kfront guidingedge `5,. f .The dish 'spreferably provided with yone or mre partitions 6 "Providing plurality off compartments l a lextending VAlengthwisee towardV the l user, Yto, facilitate the. gathering off-the` :oojdf' therefrom, 'as g hereafter 1de- At `one si'defdish 4 4isf.connected by cord treadle 9" hinged a shoe-'10*adapfedffto `Specification. of Letters Patent. y

sE'Lr-EEEDING APPARATUS.

Patented Mar.'9, 1920.

` Application fue@ 'May 27, 1919. serial No. 300,190. Y

lie on the floor, and the other side of the dish is similarly connected by cord 11 leading-over sheave 12 'andconnected to counterweight 13. By Ythis means the dish may be.easilyshiftedlaterally to any desired position, and there held during the manipulav tion of the spoon or fork.

lAt one side of the normal position of the dish an upright plate 14- extends upwardly from thebase 2to which it is rigidly secured, and this-.plate is lcut out at its middle portion to provide the necessarytriangular clearance yfora swingin cam plate l5, pivoted at 16 to a `bracket Thecam plate 15k is provided with a pivoted counterweight'lS adaptedl to be thrown over upon pin 1,9 to open a continuous inclined slotl 20Y to delect the spoon b on downwardmovement as in dotted lines, Fig. 4, or over on ping21 at the other side to'openV a continuous vertical slot 22 for vertical upward movementof` the sp0on,"as inFig. 5. `These `movements are necessary in feeding fluid or semi-l'luidfoods, e

assoup, or `the like. i

- kTheyuppery end 'of thecam plate 15 -is taperedtoa point Yand isV provided at each sidewith 4projecting edges 0r guides "23 adaptedito embrace the inner slotted edge of the plate, while a keeper'or cross bracket 24 is secured to theplate 14 and extends across the upper art of the slot opening, to prevent backwar swinging'of the upper end of thecam plate. 'Spoon b is provided with a right angle stemV 25l adjustably heldin' socket 26 of a dependingarm 277 pivoted at 28v to the ter-V minal' 29,01? a yertically vmovable Aoperating arm 30. Said arm' is'mounted `inguidel i .Arm 27 extends upwardly beyond pivoted' Y joint 28lfsuiiciently far'fto provide leverage and-"is provided"atits-terminal with apink 27 i1,' adapted tori'de downwardly in inclined slot'20 to tilt the spoon ba'ckwardlyV and upmayV bei-located at any suitable position onV armY vto eiectthe' desired ltiltinglof the' 'spoon-*f Whenaetuznsedr hy-"armfO-in rising,A

Tand' extends down through the basey 2, j-its clined outer edge of the cam plate, tilting pin 2l'ar will ride against the outer vertical edge of the slotted plate, tipping the upper en'dofcam'plate 15 outwardly-until the pin the spoon back, as indicated in dotted lines, Fig. 4,.. l

:The V full downw ard movement allows .pin

27@ to ride underneathjthe lower terminal offte;

cam, l5, the weight of the spoon depressing' the lower Acam terminal backwardlyso that when Vpin 271 is lowered below 'the cam, the weight of the spoon-will cause; pin 27?-to rise upwardly behind the cam, withthe edge of the spoonresting on the fartliier bottiom portion of dish 4. Upward movement of ar-m 30 may then be effected by operation of treadle 84: untilthe spoon is about at the right level tQbe taken intoA the month of the user..A

In Figs. 8 and 9 I 4show a vmodified construction lfor using a for-k c, which is. ,secured to thejfront of an arm A similarly pivoted at 28'"L to the upper terminal 29-ofv arm 30. Atrnr') is adapted-tocome into contact with` a tilting abutment pin 36 ex tending from platelll into range of pivoted arm 435 so as to throw Afork 'c forwardlyto convenient. .position for the user, as indicated in dotted lines, Fig.-v 9."l VYlithfthisarrangementyit is desirable tothrust the fork downwardly into the dish with Yconsiderable force, to pierce through a 'piece ;QfJneat, bread, or the like, and' the treadle 34 is therefore connected directly with the bottom of operating arm 30, asin Fig.f8, acounterweight-S7 being also connected withthe arm by -cordBS overa sheave 39, for lifting the arm Vand fork c. e l

drinking cup d is pivotally mounted by Va socket ring loipivoted.'inbearing41 of plate. 14 and at 4t2 to the top ofean upright supportA {il-3 extending `upwardly from basep2. The. cup and ringare mounted ifor pivotal tippingfat a convenient angle as tothe pivoting center', v,or easy reach by the user, as shown .inFig 3. f' l y The .construction and operation of the: invention willbe readily understood and appreciated from the foregoing description. The apparatus is suitably proportioned as tovheight and v`itsvznvions dimensions to -accommodate ,itself to Vthe user when seated infront cf it.` By y1n anipulating treadle v9, thje dish l may be. moved to right or. left ment s,f.to be placed within."rangeoff theparticularutensil beingfused. Treadlej'aaor.

3a@ fenables the. `userl .to .move the utensili at V 'desired-1 may be eaten bya fork, all that is necessary vfor an attendant to do is to lill the dish with thefprefer'redfood andthe lcup with liquid,-

lcrippled in the manner indicated. .It enables them' to practically feed themselves, relieving the user of a sense of helplessness andavoiding thenecessity of an attendant to a great extent. Y Y Th'ejinventionlinay. bechanged or varied in different details or features by the skilled mechanic, but all such 'changes are to be understood as within the scope of the following claims. i

lVhatIclaim-is: A Y

l. Self`feeding apparatus, .consisting of a food holding utensil, means controlled by 'the'feet forV .lowering and raising the utensilV and yimechanisin for deflecting the utensilvfrom its normal vertical path of movement. ,l

- 2. Sv lf-feedingapparatus consisting of a food holdingutensil and means embodying camV mechanism and controlled by vthe feet for lowering, tilting and raising the utensil.

VSelf-f,ceding apparatus consisting of a food holding utensiland a pivoted sup-` porting armtherefor having a guiding projection, means' forraising and lowering the pivoted arm, and a vertically arrL nged slottedguide for saidprojection. i

fl. Self-feeding apparatus `consisting of a food` holding utensil and a pivoted sup-V porting arm therefor havinga guidingprojection, means for raising and lowering the .pivoted arm, and a vertically arranged 'slotted guide for said projection provided with a pivoted deectingcam;

5. Self-feeding apparatus consisting of a food holding utensil Vand a pivoted supporting arm therefor having a guiding projec-v tion, means 'for 4raising. and lowering the pivoted armand a vertically arrangedslotted: guide for said projection provided with pivoted `deiiecting cam'having an adjustable counterweight.` e

6.L `In combination s with a food holding utensil andmeans for. actuatingA it, a later-f allymovable food receiverand vmeans for shifting it. Y Y

` 7.,.In combination' with a food `hol-ding utensilandnieans for. actuating it, a Vlaterallymovable food receiver and foot actuated mechanism for. shifting`it. fff i f In.8. Inacombination vwithfa vertical 'standard.V provided ywith Y a., guiding' traekw'ay, .a vertically movable arm provided lwith treadle .actuated .operating `mechanism'. and

a counterweight, and a' food" holding' utoIlSil. f pivotal ylcarried :said-'arm andprov'ded vthalpfoj Y ard kprovided with a guiding trackway, a vertically movable arm vprovided with treadle actuated operating mechanism and a counterweight, a food holding utensil pivotally carried by said arm and provided with a projection engaging the trackway, and a pivoted cam located in said trackway for en agement with said projection.

10. elf-feeding apparatus consisting of a supporting base having attaching clamps, a food receiver movable along said base having foot actuated operating mechanism` a guiding standard, and avertically movable support provided with a pivotally mounted food engaging utensil having operative connection with the guiding standard.

11. Self-feeding apparatus consisting of a supporting base having attaching clamps, a food receiver movable along said base havin@ foot actuated operating mechanism, a guiding standard, having a clearance opening` therein and a pivotally mounted deflecting cam, and a vertically movable support i provided with a pivotally mounted food engaging utensil having a projection engagmg the olea-rance opening and deflecting cam.

12. Self-feeding apparatus consisting of a supporting base having attaching clamps,

a food receiver movable along said base having foot actuated operating mechanism, a guiding standard having a clearance opening therein and a pivotally mounted deiecting cam, a vertically movable support provided with a pivotally mounted food engag` ing utensil having a projection engaging the; clearanceV opening and deflecting cam, and an operating treadle having. Ya lifting connection with the vertically movable support.

13. In combination' with a vertical standard, a vertically movable treadle-actuated carrier provided With a pivoted food holding utensil, and means carried by the standard for engaging an element movable with the food holding utensil for tilting the utensil.

A 14. In lcombination with a vertically movable supporting arm and a food holding utensil pivota-lly carried thereby, a vertical slotted standard, and a pivoted controlling cam therein having a position controlling counterweight.

15. In combination vwith a vertically movable supporting arm and a food holding utensil pivotally carried thereby, a vertical slotted standard, and a pivoted controlling cam therein having an upper tapered terminal engaging the inner edge of the slotted standard. v i

16. In an apparatus of the class described, in combination with the slotted standard and a food holding utensil operable therewith, a laterally vspaced upright support,

and a cup holding ring pivotally mounted' lation to the utensil.

18. In combination with a base lhaving a fiat upper surface anda guiding front edge, y

and a .food holding utensil and means for Vactuating it above the base in a direction toward and from the user; a laterally movable food receiver having one or more trans verse j partitions arranged in parallelism with the direction of movement ofthe utensil andY slidably mounted von the base and against its front edge, and treadle and countervveight mechanism for shifting the food receiver laterally with relation to the utensil. j

19. In combination with a base having a f flat upper surface and a guiding front edge, and ya food holding utensil and means for actuating it above the ibase; a laterally movable food receiver slidably mounted on the base and against its front edge, a treadle anda flexible connection .therefrom secured to the food receiver, a guiding sheave therefor, and an oppositely acting counter- 'weight flexibly connected to the other side of the food receiver, and a guiding sheave therefor.y

In testimony whereof I hereunto afix my signature.y

^ FORREST R. MAGUIRE. 

